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Public Prosecutor’s Office Exposes Milk Adulteration Scheme in the 13th Phase of Operation Leite Compensado, Putting Millions of Brazilians’ Health at Risk.
Milk with caustic soda and hydrogen peroxide? An operation by the once again surprised Brazil by revealing a concerning scheme involving adulterated milk. The operation, dubbed Leite Compensado, entered its 13th phase last Wednesday (11) and targeted the Dielat factory, located in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. The discovery brought to light serious frauds that pose a risk to public health, with the addition of caustic soda and hydrogen peroxide in dairy products.
How Does the Caustic Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide Milk Fraud Work?
The investigation by the revealed that the Dielat factory was using caustic soda and hydrogen peroxide in various dairy products, such as UHT milk, powdered milk, and dairy compounds. According to the prosecutors, caustic soda is used to reduce milk acidity, while hydrogen peroxide is used to reprocess spoiled or expired products.
The products involved, which are already in the Brazilian market and even in Venezuela, include the brands Mega Lac, Mega Milk, Tentação, and Cootall. In Venezuela, the affected product is Tigo. Additionally, Dielat provides food to schools and public agencies, which increases the severity of the case.
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Operation Leite Compensado and Health Risks
The operation Leite Compensado has been in existence since 2013 and aims to combat fraud in milk production in Brazil. In this new phase, five people were arrested, including the chemical engineer Sérgio Alberto Seewald, known as the “alchemist” or “milk wizard.” He is identified as the one responsible for developing a formula capable of masking adulterating substances, making it difficult to detect them in routine inspections.
Others involved include co-owner Antonio Ricardo Colombo Sader, director Tales Bardo Laurindo, and supervisor Gustavo Lauck. An employee was also caught in the act attempting to hide evidence of the crime.
Prosecutor Mauro Rockenbach, in an interview with g1, warned about the health risks:
“These substances are used to reprocess expired products and recover spoiled items, which poses serious health risks, including potential carcinogenic properties [capable of causing cancer].”
Adulterated Brands and Impact on School Meals
The scandal gained even more dimension when it was discovered that Dielat’s products were supplied for school meals in at least seven cities in Rio Grande do Sul: Alvorada (2023), Porto Alegre (2023), Taquara (2022), Canela (2020), Gravataí (2020), Ivoti (2019), and Viamão (2019).
This information, released by the State Court of Accounts (TCE), shows the severity of the distribution of adulterated milk in public food programs.
Parents and local authorities are concerned about the health effects on children, as the supposedly contaminated products were consumed by thousands of students.
How to Identify and Avoid Milk with Caustic Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide?
Although the is still conducting analyses to determine which batches were contaminated, the main recommendation is to avoid consuming the brands mentioned: Mega Lac, Mega Milk, Tentação, and Cootall. Even without an official determination, prevention is the best measure at this time. It is important to be alert to some suspicious characteristics in dairy products, such as:
- Unusual smell or taste;
- Appearance with different coloration;
- Irregular texture.
In case of suspicion, the recommendation is to contact consumer protection agencies or the local health surveillance.
The Role of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and Next Steps
The action of the in cases like this is essential to ensure that food frauds are combated and punished. The Leite Compensado operation has been a landmark in tackling the adulteration of dairy products, especially due to its direct impact on public health.
Analyses are ongoing, but investigators emphasize that the new formula used by criminals makes the detection process even more complex. The expectation is that, in the coming days, more precise information about the contaminated batches and additional measures to be taken will be released.
A Concern That Requires Attention
The case of the Dielat factory reignites the alert about the dangers of adulterated milk and the importance of constant oversight in the food sector. The addition of caustic soda and hydrogen peroxide in products not only undermines consumer trust but also puts public health at risk, with potentially severe effects, such as cancer development.
The continues to work to hold those involved accountable and ensure that such frauds do not occur again. Meanwhile, consumers should remain vigilant, avoid the mentioned adulterated brands, and always seek information about the origin of the products they consume.
Staying alert is the best way to protect health and combat such harmful frauds. Follow updates on the operation and learn more about how to ensure the safety of the food that reaches your table!
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